tutorial tuesday. easy square in square block.

Hello and welcome back to tutorial tuesday here at notes of sincerity.  It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted a tutorial, either mine or one I have used from someone else.  Since I have received a number of emails and comments on this particular block, I thought it would be fun to take you through a step by step (I gave a written description on how to piece this block-but having pictures is so much more fun don't you think?!).  It is super duper easy and a fun way to use up special scraps in your stash.

materials needed : 3 - 5" squares

cutting instructions : cut 2 of the 5" squares diagonally

sewing instructions : with right sides together center 

and sew half squares on opposite sides of the 5" square

trim off nubs

open and press half squares outwards with hot dry iron

with right sides together center and sew remaining 

half squares on opposite sides of the 5" square

 again, open and press half squares 

outwards with hot dry iron

 center and square to 7 1/2"

See.  Wasn't that easy?!  My sweet little bucket is filling up nicely with squares from scraps of fabric I used in 2013 quilt projects!  

I hope you have enjoyed my little tutorial.  wink.

**for your convenience I have listed a pdf in my little shop for this pattern



linking to :

tutorial tuesday. the quilty barn along.

Hi girls!  Welcome back to tutorial tuesday.  This week I wanted to share the latest block I have sewn in Lori's Quilty Barn Along.  Have you been building barns too?  This silo block made my heart skip a beat!  I could hardly wait to make mine!

Lori showed her's in green and well, I was a big ol' copy cat and pieced mine in green as well.  I also used a couple of Lori's latest bake sale 5" squares, in the center quilt block.  I am so smitten with bake sale, you will most likely see it popping up often on my blog.  wink.

I hope that your week is off to a great start!  We had a pretty strong storm the other day, so I will be picking up branches, cutting down some fallen pine trees, and getting our yard mowed ... that is, right after I build a couple more barns!  wink.

tutorial tuesday. granny stripes.

 

I absolutely love Lucy's blog, Attic 24.  It is one of my favorites to visit.  It is always such a delight to see and read about Lucy's surrounding area, day to day happenings, and especially her crochet!  Wow!  She has an amazing use of color and design.  So inspiring!

One of my favorite tutorials is for the granny stripe.  It transfers easily to any crochet project you might want to make as well.  I began a granny stripe cowl so that I would have something to do while waiting during my layovers in Atlanta.  Coming and going from Michigan.  I have been craving yummy pastels lately.  The variegated acrylic yarn has been a fun way to get all of them in one project.  I'll be sure and share when I finish.  wink. 

Have a wonderful Tuesday!
 

tutorial tuesday. knit yoda toy.

"a little cutie ... i am" - yoda

Welcome back to tutorial tuesday.

I have a cute little treat for you today. He stands between 3 and 4 inches tall actually! My wonderful niece Erin, knit this super cute little yoda toy for a younger cousin's 6th birthday, and I just had to share it with you!!  Erin is a college student and off for the summer.  Hmmm.  Maybe I can get her to teach me how to knit too.  wink.

Erin also wrote her very own tutorial, which just so happens to be listed on Ravelry!!  How cool is that??  (you rock Erin!  so proud of you!)  You can find the tutorial here.   If you happen to make one, PLEASE let her know (me too by the way - I would love to see it also).

tutorial tuesday. dresden fan block.

 

In March, Sinta mailed out gorgeous fabrics to us, for her bee blocks of choice.  Yes, I said March ... shame on me.  Just getting them back to her way at the end of May.  I am so sorry it has taken me this long Sinta.

Like most of the bee blocks we all made this year, this one was a first for me!  Which has been so wonderful!  I have really enjoyed trying new blocks and techniques!  

The tutorial for this dresden fan block can be found here.  I am seriously thinking about making one for myself.  Seriously.  Go check it out.

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week and that you are enjoying my little tutorial tuesday contributions.   

My prayers are with those in MO who were affected by the tornado yesterday.  xo

tutorial tuesday. pillowcase tutorial.

There is a special little someone in my life with a birthday quickly approaching.  And this little man loves fire engines.  One of the fabrics used has several fire engines, plus other motor vehicles that he will recognize.

I used Kerri's fabulous magic pillow case tutorial, and let me just say, this was so much fun!!  I don't want to stop making them!  Thank you Kerri for showing us how!

The pattern calls for 3/4 yard of the main fabric and 1/4 yard for the band, in addition to 2" of fabric for the smaller band.  I was able to take one yard of two different fabrics that I thought he would like and make two matching standard size pillow cases. 

Now they are ready to be wrapped and shipped, wishing this little one a happy birthday and sweet dreams. xo

tutorial tuesday. scrappy trip around the world.

Hello and welcome back to tutorial tuesday.  Each Tuesday I have been sharing a link to a tutorial that I have either tried or plan to.  I hope you are enjoying the tutorials and if you have any to share, by all means, please leave a link in the comment section.  I would love to see it!

Today's tutorial is no stranger to you dear quilters out there!  It is the scrappy trip around the world tutorial.  If you google that title you will see some of the most gorgeous quilts made by using this tutorial.  After digging into my beloved Seaside fat quarter bundle (I will share that quilt top on another tutorial tuesday - wink), I had plenty of strips that I could hardly wait to use in a scrappy trip around the world quilt top.

I had just enough strips to make a toddler size quilt top.  I have been craving more hand quilting projects, so this will keep me company in the evenings while I hang out with the family.

The quilt top is a 3 block by 4 block lay out. 

I hope you are having a great start to your week!

Thanks so much for visiting.

ps.  I am making another scrappy trip around the world quilt top using scraps from my stash, that I will show as it progresses.  I couldn't help it!  I just love this pattern! 

tutorial tuesday. lined zipper pouch.

 

I can't stop making these zippered pouches!  They are so much fun and make wonderful gifts.  Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, birthday, etc.  You name it!

Oh!  And especially when you fill them with a treat!

                   (images used with permission from Anna - thanks Anna!)

Truth be told, I was terrified of zippers.  I know, you would think I would be afraid of spiders or something harmful like that.  But nope.  Zippers did it for me.  

That is until I ran across Anna's fabulous tutorial for her Zakka inspired pencil pouch.  Each step is laid out with wonderful pictures and easy to understand instructions.  for my above pouch I used the same method, only adjusted it to the size of pouch I was making.

Another nice thing, is I have been able to use Anna's method for installing a zipper in other things as well.  The back of my charm square pillow has a zipper.  The pillow cover is lined and can easily be removed to wash when needed.

No more fear of zippers!  Thanks Anna for your tutorial! 

weekend plans.

Hello and Happy Saturday.  I hope that your weekend is off to a great start!  We went from experiencing violent weather on Thursday to clear blue skies today.  I really should be outdoors getting a jump on a few things before they are overgrown, but decided to stay put inside and work on a few projects.  Here is a little glimpse of what I am up to this weekend.

All of Kathy's gorgeous fabrics are paired up and being cut into swoon blocks.  The background fabric is gray (you can see it here).  I just love that pop of orange she included!  I can't seem to get enough orange these days.  Do you ever do that with a certain color?  Which one?

A little happy mail arrived at my home!  A few half yard cuts from Fig Tree Co. recent release of Avalon.  I love every fabric that Joanna creates for Moda, but truth be told, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Strawberry Fields, and now Avalon are my very top favorites!  The red with white polka dots will become the binding for my Strawberry Fields Granny Square quilt (it is en route to the quilter now), you can see the finished (unquilted) quilt here.  Joanna's fabric lines mix very well.  I hunted for more of the Strawberry Fields fabric with no luck.  I am so pleased at how the polka dots from Avalon go so well with the Strawberry Fields line.  

I have noticed that other designer fabric lines are the same way (for example : Bee In My Bonnet for Riley Blake, Bonnie and Camille for Moda, V and Co. for Moda - just to name a few).  I am so glad, aren't you? It is fun mixing their lines together!

Did you happen to spy the crochet pin cushion in the above picture?  It is currently available in my little shop as well as a few others.  I am also happy to make more for you if need be.  

 (tutorial tuesday supplies - hint hint)

I hope you will drop in on Tuesday to see the latest tutorial I will be sharing with you. 

tutorial tuesday. pinwheel quilt.

Hello ladies.  I thought it might be a little fun around here if I posted tutorials on Tuesdays.

I have mainly learned to quilt by reading quilting blogs, asking a lot of questions, not to mention plenty of trial and error.  grin. 

Today's tutorial is a pinwheel quilt by V and Co.  I have been reading Vanessa's blog for.ever!  I never miss a post.   I just love her to death.  Ok, enough mush!

Vanessa's pinwheel is one of the first 

quilts I made as a new quilter.  

I still make my half square triangles 

the way she showed us way back then.

You can read past posts for my pinwheel quilt       
  here, here, here. 

Thank you Vanessa for your fabulous tutorial!!

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